NBA Playoffs Best Bets of the Night: Monday, May 9

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Left) & Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (Right)

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As we head into mid-May, the NBA Playoffs are into Game 4's of the Western Conference and Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Tonight, the Boston Celtics will look to tie their series up on the road after a brutal 103-101 defeat to the Bucks in Game 3. In the West, the Memphis Grizzlies who will be without Ja Morant in Game 4 are in need of a miracle to take Game 4 on the road from Golden State. Let's take a look at the best NBA Playoffs bets and player props of this evening.

Please Note: All odds and lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and were accurate at 12 PM EST. Be sure to check for line movement or odd changes.

Game: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks -1 (MIL Leads 2-1)

Milwaukee won their first of two games at home by only two points. In Boston, both teams got a win. In Game 3, Giannis Antetokounmpo had another huge game. He finished with 42 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and two steals. Giannis and the Bucks got whatever they wanted down low in Game 3.

Both teams shot poorly from the field, but the Bucks shot just a little better and got more shots off. Milwaukee finished the night shooting 40.4% (40-99 FG) as a team, while Boston converted 36.8% (32-87 FG) as a team. Ultimately, Boston has a good chance of bouncing back tonight. They couldn’t shoot worse as a team than they did in Game 3, and Boston wants to leave Milwaukee with a win, the same way the Bucks stripped them of one of the first home games.

The Pick: Boston Celtics +1 (-110)

Game: Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors -10 (GSW Leads 2-1)

Golden State scored a whopping 142 points on Saturday night to win Game 3 of their series against the Memphis Grizzlies by 30 points. No team can score that much unless they have impeccable ball movement, strong defense, and great shooting. The Warriors hit on all of those marks. Regarding ball movement, you will have to watch to see their magic. While the Grizzlies shot a very mediocre 43.5% from the field in Game 3, the Warriors converted 53-of-84 shots from the field ending the night shooting 63.1% from the field as a team. The new Splash brothers are making a bang in the 2022 playoffs. Stephen Curry (30 PTS), Klay Thompson (21 PTS), and Jordan Poole (27 PTS) combined for 78 points on the night. Each of them shot 50% or better from the field. While Golden State is clearly capable of shooting 50% from the field night in and night out, Memphis cannot. With the exception of Ja Morant who scored 34 points (13-21 FG), the Grizzlies’ core players ran into a wall in Game 3. Jaren Jackson Jr. had another rough night, scoring 15 points (4-13 FG) in 29 minutes. For some reason, De’Anthony Melton took 14 shots from the field only to convert five of them (35.7 FG%). Finally, Tyus Jones and Brandon Clarke combined for only six points and one-of-nine shooting from the field! While Memphis should shoot better from the field in Game 4 (how could they shoot worse in the playoffs?), it still won’t be enough to contain Golden State’s unbelievable chemistry and high-power offense. The biggest concern for the Grizzlies is the health of Ja Morant, who injured his knee after Jordan Poole inadvertently pulled it when attempting to steal the ball late in the fourth quarter of Game 3.

The only player on the Grizzlies who has been reliable through the first three games of this Western Conference Semifinal has been Morant. The latest news suggests that Ja will not play in Game 4, which would be devastating for the Memphis Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies lose both games on the road, they will head back to Memphis down 3-1 in the series. That's never a good deficit to have to fight out of in the NBA Playoffs.

Besides Morant and Bane, everyone else on Memphis’ roster has been inconsistent and unreliable. Notably, Jaren Jackson seems uncomfortable on the floor. While Bane and Morant are doing their job, Jackson hasn’t been able to consistently throughout these playoffs. In contrast, I can’t remember the last time Jordan Poole scored less than 20 points (Eight points in 26 minutes played during a blowout win against Denver Game 5). Simply put, the Grizzlies can’t rely on Ja Morant, and maybe Desmond Bane every night. While betting on the +390 moneyline for Memphis to win would be irresponsible, consider taking Memphis +10 to cover the spread. Golden State could still win by nine points, and you’d come out on top. Even without Morant, the Grizzlies have a ton of energy and speed and are one of the few teams in the league that can run with Golden State. Tyus Jones and De'Anthony Melton will have much more significant roles to play in Morant's absence while Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks will need to produce scorching-hot numbers to keep Memphis competitive in this pivotal Game 4.

The Pick: Memphis Grizzlies +10 (-110)

NBA Player Props of the Night

Game: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks (MIL Leads 2-1)

Prop: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 30.5 Points (-120)

Giannis erupted for 42 points in Game 3. It’s tough to picture him scoring 10 fewer points tonight than he did on Saturday. The Greek Freak is certainly feeding off of the home crowd’s energy. Through the first two games of the series, Giannis combined for 20-of-52 (or 38%) shooting from the field. In his return home in Game 3, Giannis knocked down 16 of his 30 shots taken from the field. Expect him to shoot 50% or better from the field in Game 4 to score approximately 35 points. Without Khris Middleton, Milwaukee is letting Giannis attack the rim whenever he gets the ball. Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, and even Pat Connaughton have all stepped up big time but it's still the Greek Freak's show in Milwaukee.

Prop: Jaylen Brown Over 2.5 Threes (-150)

In the first round of the playoffs, Jaylen Brown struggled from deep. In fact, through those four games against the Nets in the first round, Brown shot for a combined 4-of-19 (or 21%) from downtown. However, things are looking better for Boston’s star wing against Milwaukee. Through Boston's first three games of their series against the Bucks, Brown has shot 10-of-24 (or 41.6%) from three-point range. With the exception of Game 3 where Brown only converted one-of-five of his three-pointers, Brown hit at least three three-point field goals in Games 1 and 2. After a tough loss in Game 3, expect Brown to shoot better from downtown, and knock down at least three shots from deep tonight.

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With Football and March Madness in our rear-view window, you must think that there is nothing good to bet on these days. However, there’s so much going on right now that even we are having a hard time keeping up!

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on to help you out.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, they are offering new users their No Sweat $1,000 promotion. This means you will get up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets if you lose your first bet!

Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

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